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Introduction to Linux - A Hands on Guide

This guide was created as an overview of the Linux Operating System, geared toward new users as an exploration tour and getting started guide, with exercises at the end of each chapter.
For more advanced trainees it can be a desktop reference, and a collection of the base knowledge needed to proceed with system and network administration. This book contains many real life examples derived from the author's experience as a Linux system and network administrator, trainer and consultant. They hope these examples will help you to get a better understanding of the Linux system and that you feel encouraged to try out things on your own.

Following my upgrade to Ubuntu 8.10_64 whenever I start compiz my mouse fails. I normally use a cordless Logitech 5 button mouse and immediately am unable to left click onto most icons. The worst affected application is Firefox (only because it is very mouse reliant), by accident I found that the secondary left click (direction) button will open an icon but I need to right click on the secondary button - then "open in new tab" to go to any url required. Additionally the operation of the mouse appears to be somewhat random in that it does not always do the same thing.

I have tried a standard usb three button mouse (Logitech left, right and wheel), as soon as compiz is started the left and right buttons do nothing.

My use of a computer means that I have a minimum of 1 Word, 3 Spreadsheets and 2 Draw files open in OpenOffice at any time, moving between them often, also Firefox and Thunderbird are used extensively. Compiz has made this very easy to maintain, I am now lost without it.

As I have not seen any other thread remotely like this I can only assume that I am at fault. The setup is precisely the same as it was when I used 8.04, in desperation I went so far as to reinstall, but of course /home is still the same so my settings will also be.

X.Org Input Devices.
The X.Org configuration file (/etc/X11/xorg.conf) still has InputDevice entries for the mouse and keyboard, but they are ignored now because input-hotplug is used. The keyboard settings now come from /etc/default/console-setup; to change them please use sudo dpkg-reconfigure console-setup. After that, HAL and X need to be restarted (e.g., by rebooting your system).

Thank you tommcd, your post has almost cleared another problem since my upgrade.

I have a Cherry CyMotion Master Linux keyboard and most of the extra function keys no longer operate, following your console-setup suggestion the 'alt gr' key now works - I will try chasing the others when my mouse problem is resolved.

I have been using Ubuntu since the Dapper Drake 6.06 distribution, Ubuntu was selected because of my lack of expertise. I managed to get through the first 6 months because of helpful community members such as yourself, once up and running I've had very little contact with the forums (I do not have the ability to advise others correctly, or I would do so).

I realise that I've missed something otherwise others would have the same issue.

I shall now renter the Ubuntu wiki and check for other threads on this subject, I could not do so without first giving you an up-date. Thanks for your welcome to the LQ forums!

I've had another look at this issue and it seems that I've been misled with a number of changes in the way my mouse now operates. If I need to point and left click I need to use the keyboard as well - control+point and left click. Whatever function I required with point and right click now needs alt+point and right click. Using the left click on its own brings up the drag icon, moving the mouse then drags whichever window I am in. When in Firefox/Google and doing control+left click on one of my bookmark files, all of the bookmarks are opened in tags automatically, I find this an aggravation as I then have to close all tags, including the ones I am using, in any one day I like to pick and choose what tags are open. Clicking each individual tag to remove it does nothing but move the cursor to the next tag.

I have been carrying out my work fairly well but would ask if anyone has any thoughts on how to reverse the clicking procedures and how to stop the tags of my bookmark files from automatically loading.

I must add that I did nothing to change the settings, this all came about with an upgrade to Ubuntu 8.10.